1. Is Charlie Crist toast in Florida?
2. Will new student loan reform legislation help college students?
3. Do American schools have a bullying crisis?
4. How can the U.S. government increase the number of people who participate in the Census?
5. Should the Obama administration impose a peace settlement between the Israeli and Palestinians?
6. Will the Republicans be as opposed to financial reform as they were to healthcare reform?
7. How can the Democrats win the PR war over healthcare reform?
8. Does the appointment of Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board reignite the national debate over card check?
9. Will California voters legalize marijuana in November?
10. Is President Obama’s tougher stance against Republican opposition a sign of strength or of desperation?
Month: March 2010 Page 1 of 3
1. What does the low turnout for the recent regional elections in Italy say about the state of politics in the country?
2. Would it be in Colombia’s best interest to exchange captured FARC rebels for hostages?
3. How can Nicolas Sarkozy turn around his dismal approval ratings?
4. Are Arab hardliners being strengthened by the current spat between the United States and Israel?
5. Will Greece’s economic difficulties permanently prevent Britain from joining the euro zone?
6. How should Russia respond to the recent Moscow subway attacks?
7. Is it wise for Burma’s opposition to boycott the country’s upcoming elections?
8. Will China’s hostility to internal criticism be a roadblock in its path to becoming a global economic superpower?
9. How can China improve the safety of its mines?
10. If Turkey is willing to support sanctions against Iran, should the EU offer it immediate membership?
Here is the short answer version of this week’s news quiz. Good luck!
Here is your multiple choice news quiz for this week. Good luck!
For those interested in competing in one of the more unique tournaments of the year, the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions at Northwestern University, the registration form has been posted online at the TOC’s website. The Extemp TOC has existed since 2003 and offers one of the more competitive fields of the season. Last year, the top three competitors in the National Points Race: Stacey Chen, Dillon Huff, and Matt Arons fought it out in the final round. This year’s TOC is a third tier tournament in the Extemp Central National Points Race and it will award 100 points to the winner.
The tournament also boasts one of the stronger judging fields in the nation with former extempers and recognized high school and collegiate coaches evaluating extempers performances. Extempers are guaranteed six preliminary rounds and for those that do not break to elimination rounds there is a supplemental impromptu competition that they can enter.
The cost per covered entry is $125 (one judge may cover two entries) and there is a $40 entry processing fee. Extempers can look at the invitation for the tournament on the TOC”s website to see if they meet the eligibilty requirements. The deadline for registering for the tournament and paying these fees is May 7th.
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, you can submit a bid application. The deadline for this is April 1st. The cost of a bid application is $25.
Extemp Central plans to do some live blogging from the tournament this year so those that cannot make the tournament will receive updated information about pairings/results/etc. However, it is hoped that extempers around the country plan to attend this year’s TOC.
If you are interested in finding out who has qualified for United States or International Extemp for the 2010 NFL National tournament in Kansas City, Missouri, place your mouse over the “NFL Quals 2010” tab at the top of the page. This will allow you to go to a page that will show either the United States or International qualifiers.
We are still trying to assemble results and as those pages show we have a long way to go. Don’t be shy! Send your qualifiers to [email protected].
Today, since it’s the end of the week, Extemp Central has decided to devote the entire R&D section to domestic social issues, which is a favorite topic area of United States extempers everywhere.
Reid casts wrong vote on health care for second time from CNN
Social Security to See Payout Exceed Pay-In This Year from the New York Times
Gas up $1 a gallon on Obama’s watch from the Washington Times
Comparing NAEP Achievement Data and State Spending from the New America Foundation
Obamacare: The New Battles Ahead from the Cato Institute
Fixing No Child Left Behind from the Wall Street Journal
The Health Care War Isn’t Over from the Brookings Institution
About that government takeover of the student loan business… from the Christian Science Monitor
Here are the answers to this week’s Extemp Central news quiz. We’ll have the new one up on Monday!
Here are the qualifiers from the California Coastal NFL District:
United States Extemp:
1. Vijay Singh (Bellarmine College Prep)
2. Remy Sun (Bellarmine College Prep)
3. Amode Tembhekar (Leland High School)
International Extemp:
1. Ali Hazrati (Bellarmine College Prep)
2. Rylan Shaffer (Mountain View High School)
3. Ayushi Roy (Leland High School)
It should be noted that because of the NFL’s new “auto qualification” policy for non-seniors who make the final round, Jacob Baker of Bellarmine College Prep automatically qualified in International Extemp due to his 3rd place finish last year.
Do you have district results? Send them to [email protected] so that we can piece our qual list together for the 2010 NFL National tournament.
Discovered this tidbit on the NFL Website this morning. What’s interesting is that limited prep (ie, extemp) is not specifically mentioned. I wonder if that’s lumped under public address? Given the limited prep aspect of the event, I would think extempers would have a unique advantage; however, I can’t image them being excluded from an event. We’re following up with the NFL for more details.
Update: Just got word from the NFL that all students are welcome to participate in the event. Yes, extempers are particularly well-suited for this event. Looks like, Extemp Central’s national tournament prep could come in even more handy this June!
The first-ever supplemental debate event is scheduled for pilot implementation at the 2010 NFL National Speech and Debate Tournament in Kansas City. Any competitor in debate, public address, interp, or Congress may pre-register to compete in this new event.
Based on significant discussion and collaboration, the new event would modify existing rules of Parliamentary Debate to address the needs of a supplemental event at nationals. Under the proposed framework, the one-on-one debate format will address a topic that changes each round. The debate does not permit published material to be used or consulted during the round, but debaters may reference scholarly work in their speeches. Debaters will not read pre-written speeches, briefs, or evidence. Instead, debaters speak impromptu from a few notes that record the arguments the other debater made, as well as outline his/her own main points. Each of these points should be signposted, explained, supported by relevant facts and examples, and given impact. Debaters must learn to think on their feet, adding and elaborating upon arguments while speaking. However, unlike Parliamentary Debate, all time is protected. A speaker may not interrupt another. There is designated cross-examination of the proposition and opposition by the opposing debater immediately following the constructive speeches.
For more information, view the event announcement in the April Rostrum.
via the National Forensic League
1. How will Google’s decision to leave China impact the Chinese economy?
2. Does Israel need the United States?
3. Is more nonmilitary aid the best way to combat Mexico’s drug cartels?
4. Should Sudan’s elections be postponed?
5. Why is France backing down from its carbon tax plan?
6. Should the UN have a stronger role in the regulation of ocean fish?
7. Is North Korea heading towards another famine?
8. Should the U.S. recognize Pakistan as a nuclear power?
9. How can Myanmar’s junta make their upcoming election appear legitimate?
10. Is it wise for Turkey to cancel talks on a new loan from the IMF?
1. Does Obama’s anti-abortion executive order do enough to ensure that federal dollars are not used for abortions?
2. Is the media covering the tea party movement fairly?
3. Does the financial overhaul bill do enough to prevent future threats to the economy?
4. Are school lunches healthy enough?
5. Is the allowance of offshore oil and gas drilling a worthy price to pay for a cap and trade bill?
6. Does the FCC’s broadband plan need more competition?
7. What should the U.S. do with its nuclear waste?
8. Is it a political mistake for the Republicans to promise that they will repeal Obama’s healthcare legislation?
9. Who is the biggest loser from ACORN’s decision to disband?
10. Will the Democrats win the reconciliation fight over healthcare in the Senate?
For today’s R&D, here is the speech President Obama delivered last night after the House narrowly approved the Senate version of healthcare reform:
Here is the short answer version of this week’s Extemp Central news quiz. Good luck!
Here is your multiple choice version of the Extemp Central news quiz for this week. Good luck!